First-time unemployment claims fall from November to December

CARSON CITY — The number of Nevadans filing first-time claims for jobless benefits dropped in December from the previous month.

A total of 20,526 people submitted first-time requests for benefits in December, down from 21,260 in November. December’s figure was 7.3 percent lower than the same month in 2011.

A drop from November to December has not occurred since 1972, said Bill Anderson, chief economist for the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. Typically, initial claims rise from November to December because of seasonal factors, he said.

“While this is only a single data point, we will continue to monitor claim activity to see if this is a sign of more improvement in the economy,” Anderson said.